NBA 2017 Playoffs heat up with second round action

DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors dunks the ball in the first half of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on April 24, 2017 in Toronto, Canada.

Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Can the Toronto Raptors challenge the champion Cleveland Cavaliers? Will Utah’s size bother the Golden State Warriors? We’ll find out as the second round of the NBA 2017 Playoffs begin to heat up.

With eight teams remaining, all is going as planned. The Warriors and Cavs still look like they’re on a collision course for the Finals, but the Boston Celtics are riding a five-game winning streak in hopes of ruining the party in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the other matchup in the West, James Harden and the Houston Rockets look like their offense is too much for the slow San Antonio Spurs.

So, is there potential for drama in the second round of the NBA 2017 playoffs? NBA Today’s Justin Termine has some thoughts.

“I think the edge has to go to Houston based off the fact that Kawhi (Leonard) is not getting enough help from guys like LaMarcus Aldridge, and Tony Parker guarding the perimeter with James Harden, one of the best offensive players in the league today, I’m not sure that they’re going to be able to stop him,” Termine said.